Book holder



Feb. 5, 1963 Filed July 19, 1961 V. M. SPARKMAN BOOK HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

)WENTOR Virgil M. sp orkman ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1963 v. M. SPARKMAN BOOK HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1961 INVENTOR Virgil M. Sporkmon @ux g'z zw ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice Patented Feb. 5, 1963 3,076,285 BOOK HOLDER Virgil M. Sparkman, 1301 Marshall Dale, Arlington, Tex. Filed July 19, 1961, Ser. No. 125,118 4 Claims. (CI. 45-85) This invention relates to book holding devices, and it has particular reference to a book holder or stand adapted to support an open book in readable position, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a light and economical book holder especially useful for students, librarians, researchers, invalids, and individuals in similar pursuits and circumstances, whereby a hard or soft bound book can be supported in reading position while freeing the hands for making written notes, and the like.

Another and important object of the invention is that of providing a book holder which is readily adjustable to accommodate books of various sizes, and capable of being compactly folded for storage or portability, and without disassembling the parts which could become misplaced or lost.

' A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a book support by which an open book can be arranged at proper reading angles, and in positions by which the best lighting can be achieved, and providing yieldable devices by which the parted leaves of a book can be held in reading position while capable of being easily turned in either direction by the use of one hand.

The invention is related in substance to applicants copending application filed July 6, 1959, and bearing Serial No. 825,271 for Reading Stand.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a book holder or reading stand which is simple and compact in structure and design, characterized by its flexibility, and possessing a minimum of parts.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

' FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustration of the invention in operative position and showing, in dotted lines, an open book supported thereon.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the invention showing the upper and lower book supporting members and tensioning elements.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the invention showing the leaf retaining elements at each side, a book, shown in dotted lines, supported thereon.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the device in operative position, showing, in broken lines, the foldable elements.

FIGURE 5 fragmentarily illustrates, in transverse sec tion on lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4, the horizontal frame member pivotally connected to the vertical member.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on lines 66 of FIGURE 4, showing another view of the pivot connection between the vertical and horizontal frame members, and

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view, on lines 7-7,

through the vertical frame member.

The invention primarily comprises a pair of frame members generally designated by the numerals 10 and 11 and pivotally connected intermediate their ends by a rivet 20, or other device, whereby the assembly can be compactly folded for transportation and storage. In. operative position, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, the frame member 10 is arranged vertically while the member 11 is horizontal. Each of the members 10 and 11, in their applied form, comprise elongated open structures formed 2 of relatively heavy gauge wire, which is continuous, and defines the parallel sides and ends of the members 10 and 11.

The vertical member 10 has spaced parallel side elements 13 and 14 and end portions 15 and 16, the side elements 13 and 14 being bent at right angles at a near the lowermost end portion 16 and extending forwardly providing a rest -17 for a book 18 shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4. Intermediate the upper and lower end portions 15 and 16, the member 10 has a transverse web comprising a pair of metal plates 19 in opposing arrangement on the front and back faces thereof'each plate 19 having a semi-circular conformation at each end adapted to conformably engage the side elements 13 and 14, in the manner shown in FIGURES 1, 5 and 6, and are secured together by a rivet 20 which also functions as a pivot for the horizontal member 11, as will presently become apparent.

The horizontal member 11 has its side elements 21 and 22 connected intermediate its ends 23 and 24 by a plate 25 whose opposite ends 26 and 27 are crimped to conform to the elements 21 and 22, as illustrated in FIG- URES 5 and 6, and the rivet 20, being projected through the plate 25, pivotally connects the member 11 to the member 10 whereby these members can be folded into alignment as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 4. A spring washer 28 is arranged on the rivet 20 between the head 29 thereof and the plate 25 to impose tension on the pivot and retain the members 10 and 11 in operative or folded positions, yielding when the members are rotated with respect to each other.

A pivot block 30 is arranged on the rivet 20 adjacent to the surface of the rearmost plate 19, as illustrated in FIG- URES 3, 5 and 6, and has a pair of intersecting V-shaped grooves 31 and 32 formed across its rearmost surface, and in transverse relationship, adapted to receive a V- shaped crimp 33 formed intermediate the ends and transversely of a flexible strip 34 attached, as by spot welding, to the plate 25 on the member 11, and whose free portions 35 and 36 extend longitudinally of the member 11 and outwardly at obtuse angles, to yiel-dably support the front and back covers of a book 18, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 3. v

The arrangement is such that when the vertical member 10 is rotated degrees and aligned with the member 11 the spring washer 28 is flexed to permit the crimp 33 in the strip 34 to be transferred from the groove 31 to the groove 32 and thus retain the members 10 and 11 in semirigid alignment, when in folded position, and in transverse association when the device is in operative position. The tension imposed by the spring Washer 28 is sufficient to frictionally restrain the members 10 and 11 against voluntary pivotal movement while the invention is in use or in folded position.

A book 18 is supported in an inclined position on the rest 17 formed on the lower end of the member 10 which has a pin 37 rigidly secured therein and projecting upwardly, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, to extend between the open pages of the book 18 while the spine of the book bears against upper and lower flexible blades 38 and 39, which are opposingly arranged, and have their inner ends rigidly secured, as by spot welds 40, to plates 41 and 42 slidably secured to the side elements 13 and 14 of the vertical member 10.

The blades 38 and 39 are adjustable with respect to each other and tothe pivotal connectionbetween the members- J of the member and is slidable therealong with the blade 38.

The upper end 44 of the bracket 43 is bent at right angles thereto and projects forwardly over the upper free end of the blade 38 and has a pin 45 rigidly attached thereto and depending therefrom in opposing arrangement to the pin 37 at the lower end of the member 10 and is adapted to repose between the open pages of a book in the same manner as that of the pin 37. The pin 45 can be adjusted vertically with respect to the lower pin 37 in accordance with the dimension of the book supported thereby.

Slidably attached to the horizontal member 11, and extending longitudinally along the end portions thereof, are a pair of opposingly arranged page holding devices comprising flexible strips 46 and 47 whose inner ends are secured, as by spot welds, to plates 48 and 49 slidably attached to the side elements 21 and 22 of the member 11, as shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, the outer ends of the strips 46 and 47 being bent forwardly, at right angles, and inwardly to form page holders 50 and 51 behind which the pages of an open book are restrained in opposition to the tension of the flexible portions and 36 of the strip 34 which bear against the covers of the book, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The page holders 50 and 51 which overreach the marginal edges of the book covers, and the pages thereof in opposing arrangement, are provided with engaging pads 52 of felt, rubber, or other suitable materials adapted to frangibly contact the pages to hold them in readable position while permitting them to be readily turned as desired. The adjustability of the members 50 and 51 with respect to each other affords flexibility in adapting the invention to books of different lateral dimensions.

The invention is supported in inclined operative position by a central leg 53 whose upper end is bent at rightangles forwardly and laterally to provide an offset portion 54 and a laterally extending hinge portion 55 which latter is journalled in a sleeve 56 secured transversely of the vertical member 10 immediately above the plates 19 by which the members 10 and 11 are pivotally connected. The leg 53 can be adjusted to different inclinations, as indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 5, to support a book at a proper reading angle, and may be folded to align with the vertical member 10, as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 5, if desired.

The invention is supported horizontally by legs 57 and S8 pivotally attached, at their upper ends, to the opposite ends of the horizontal member 11 by clamps 59 and 60, respectively, which are substantially triangular, and embrace the ends 23 and 24 of the member 11 and are pivoted thereto by rivets 61, or other suitable device, as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 The legs 57 and 58 are thus capable of being folded into alignment with the member 11, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 4. Each of the legs 53, 57 and 58 are provided with suitable tips 62.

In operation, it is desirable to open the book, to be supported on the invention, at its approximate center pages and place the book on the rest 17 so that the pin 37 reposes between the parted sections of the book. The spine of the book should rest against the flexible blades 38 and 39 while the bracket 43 is adjusted downwardly so that the pin depending therefrom reposes between the parted pages opposite the pin 37. The pages of the book may then be held in open position by the holders and 51 which can be adjusted laterally to receive the marginal edges of the book covers and the open pages, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4, and moved inwardly toward each other to the desired holding position.

The pages of the book may be easily turned in either direction by slight pressure inwardly while slipping the page from under the holders 50 or 51. The members 35 and 36 will exert suflicient counter pressure to firmly hold the book in proper reading position and secure the open pages on each side. The pages can be turned with a minimum of effort and with only one hand.

It IS contemplated that, if desired, the rest 17, which is shown in the drawings as being formed with the lowermost end of the vertical member 10, may be made adjustable by utilizing the bracket 43 by securing the same to the lower plate 42 in the same manner in which it is attached to the upper plate 41. By such arrangement the members 10 and 11 can be identically formed and have the same dimensions thus minimizing the production costs. The interchangeability of parts is an advantageous feature of the invention. If desirable, the plates 41 and 42 may be secured in adjusted positions along the member 10 by wing nuts and screws (not shown).

The invention may be modified in structure and design, by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and intent thereof, or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A foldable book holder, adapted to hold a book in open position for reading, comprising a frame consisting essentially of a pair of elongated members pivotally connected intermediate their ends and normally crossed, whereby they extend vertically and horizontally, respectively, a book rest on a lower end portion of the vertically extending frame member having a forwardly extending portion engageable under the lower edge of a book supported thereon and having an upstanding pin engageable between the open pages of the book, a book retaining member slidably connected to an upper end portion of the vertically extending frame member for vertical adjustment relative to the book rest, the book retaining member having a forwardly extending portion engageable over the upper edge of the book and having a depending pin engageable between the open pages of the book, a pair of lateral extensions of the horizontally extending frame member slidably connected to opposite end portions thereof for longitudinal adjustment relative thereto, said lateral extensions each having a forwardly extending portion engageable over the adjacent side edge of the book and an inwardly turned, horizontally extending front end portion engageable over marginal portions of the opened pages of the book, spring means secured to the vertically extending frame member acting on upper and lower portions of the spine of the book whereby it is yieldably urged in engagement with the upstanding and depending pins, and spring means secured to the horizontally extending frame member acting on the covers of the book whereby opposite sides of the book are yieldably urged in engagement with the front end portions of said lateral extensions.

2. The structure of claim 1, the first mentioned spring means comprising a pair of fiat leaf springs each having one of its ends slidably connected to the vertically extending frame member and positioned above and below its juncture with the horizontally extending frame member, respectively, and yieldably extending longitudinally outwardly and forwardly in opposite directions, and the last mentioned spring means comprising a pair of flat leaf springs secured to the horizontally extending frame member at its juncture with the vertically extending frame member and yieldably extending longitudinally outwardly and forwardly in opposite directions.

3. The structure of claim 1, the vertically and horizontally extending frame members having spring tensioned, mutually engaging detent means whereby they are adapted to be releasably secured either in their crossed positions or in longitudinal alignment with each other.

4. The structure of claim 1, a first leg having one of its ends pivotally connected to the vertically extending frame member above its puncture with the horizontally extending frame member for pivotal adjustment about a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hori- 3,076,285 5 6 zontally extending frame member, and two other legs References Cited in the file of this patent each having one of its ends pivotally connected to the UNITED STATES PATENTS horizontally extending frame member and positioned adiacent opposite ends of the horizontally extending frame 1, 8,280 Burnett Sept. 10, 1912 member, respectively, and pivotally connected thereto for 5 1,2 ,932 Calder Nov. 26, 1918 pivotal adjustment about a horizontal axis perpendicular to' the longitudinal axis of the horizontally extending FOREIGN PATENTS frame member. 393,866 Great Britain June 15, 1933 

1. A FOLDABLE BOOK HOLDER, ADAPTED TO HOLD A BOOK IN OPEN POSITION FOR READING, COMPRISING A FRAME CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A PAIR OF ELONGATED MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS AND NORMALLY CROSSED, WHEREBY THEY EXTEND VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY, RESPECTIVELY, A BOOK REST ON A LOWER END PORTION OF THE VERTICALLY EXTENDING FRAME MEMBER HAVING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION ENGAGEABLE UNDER THE LOWER EDGE OF A BOOK SUPPORTED THEREON AND HAVING AN UPSTANDING PIN ENGAGEABLE BETWEEN THE OPEN PAGES OF THE BOOK, A BOOK RETAINING MEMBER SLIDABLY CONNECTED TO AN UPPER END PORTION OF THE VERTICALLY EXTENDING FRAME MEMBER FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT RELATIVE TO THE BOOK REST, THE BOOK RETAINING MEMBER HAVING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION ENGAGEABLE OVER THE UPPER EDGE OF THE BOOK AND HAVING A DEPENDING PIN ENGAGEABLE BETWEEN THE OPEN PAGES OF THE BOOK, A PAIR OF LATERAL EXTENSIONS OF THE HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING FRAME MEMBER SLIDABLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE END PORTIONS THEREOF FOR LONGITUDINAL ADJUSTMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SAID LATERAL EXTENSIONS EACH HAVING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION ENGAGEABLE OVER THE ADJACENT SIDE EDGE OF THE BOOK AND AN INWARDLY TURNED, HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING FRONT END PORTION ENGAGEABLE OVER MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE OPENED PAGES OF THE BOOK, SPRING MEANS SECURED TO THE VERTICALLY EXTENDING FRAME MEMBER ACTING ON UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS OF THE SPINE OF THE BOOK WHEREBY IT IS YIELDABLY URGED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPSTANDING AND DEPENDING PINS, AND SPRING MEANS SECURED TO THE HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING FRAME MEMBER ACTING ON THE COVERS OF THE BOOK WHEREBY OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BOOK ARE YIELDABLY URGED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FRONT END PORTIONS OF SAID LATERAL EXTENSIONS. 